Women of the New Testament
Christ s Influence on Women Women had intrinsic value collectively and individually Proclaimed their virtues and saw them as individuals Needed women as disciples and ministers Invited women to, Come Follow Me
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary = Greek form of Hebrew Miriam Origins in the Egyptian word Marye, meaning The Beloved or Beloved of God Every generation has called her blessed Mary was an exemplary disciple of Jesus Christ
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary lived in Nazareth Nazareth was a small town with under 500 inhabitants Joseph may have lived in Nazareth or Bethlehem Mary likely assisted with the family s business
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Many prophets had visions of the virgin Mary: Isaiah
Mary (Mother of Jesus) King Benjamin
Mary (Mother of Jesus) King Lamoni
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Nephi described Mary as, Most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. Nephi
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary was willing to be obedient to the announcement by the Angel Gabriel that she was to be the mother of the Son of God
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary traveled 70 miles south of Nazareth to Bethlehem 9 months pregnant
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary gave birth to Jesus in the lowliest of places, without complaint
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary was not only a loving mother to Jesus, but a devoted disciple
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary and Joseph had children together beginning with a son they named James Jesus brothers did not accept Him for who He was They thought He was, Beside himself
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary knew exactly who Jesus was the blessed Redeemer of the World! After the resurrection of Jesus, at least two of His brothers were converted James and Jude
Mary (Mother of Jesus) Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: Can we speak too highly of her whom the Lord has blessed above all women? There was only one Christ, and there is only one Mary Each was foreordained to the ministry he or she performed
Phebe Phebe in Greek means Bright, Radiant A Greco-Roman woman converted to Christianity
Phebe Phebe is often overlooked as a valuable participant in the early Christian Church She lived in Cenchrea, close to Corinth and Athens
Phebe
Phebe Paul introduced Phebe in his closing letter to the Romans He gave her three titles: our sister, a servant of the Church, and a succourer of many
Phebe Paul gave her the title of adelphe or our sister Phebe was an active member of the Christian community in Cenchrea She would have assisted in spiritual and financial ways where there was a need
Phebe Paul also described Phebe as a diakonas, or servant of the Church Romans and Greeks regarded a diakonas as a subservient position Jesus redefined the term to be a crowning virtue
Phebe Paul identified himself as a diakonos who preached in various locations
Phebe Paul s third description of Phebe is prostatus or benefactor, protector or patron Paul viewed Phebe as both prosperous and of high social standing It is estimated that 10% of patrons and donors in the Roman period were women
Phebe Phebe had Church business in Rome Her ecclesiastical commission reached beyond her home town
Phebe Paul was planning a mission to Spain, but was arrested in Jerusalem He appealed to Caesar and was taken to Rome Paul was granted permission to serve his sentence under housearrest
Phebe Phebe was likely the patroness who secured house-arrest lodgings for Paul Phebe was a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ and was a great blessing to the early Christian saints
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) Mary Magdalene is one of the best known women in the New Testament She was a prominent and respected disciple in the first century
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) Mary was from the city of Magdala Magdala is the Aramic name for a first century city located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee Magdala was near Tiberias known for its salted fish exports Mary could have been a fisherwoman as a trade
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) We know nothing about Mary s family Luke and Mark reported that Mary was possessed by seven devils and Jesus healed her The number 7 in scripture often means wholeness Mary was made whole through the power of Christ
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) Mary Magdalene was among the Galilean women who were witnesses of the Savior s crucifixion She stood close by Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary Magdalene Mary and at least one other woman were (Mary of Magdala) the first to discover the empty tomb
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) The male disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene s report Peter and John ran to see the empty tomb for themselves
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) After everyone else had run away, Mary Magdalene remained alone at the tomb determined to find out what happened to the body of Jesus
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) Mary Magdalene did not recognize the Savior when He first appeared and spoke to her
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) When the Lord called her by name, Mary, her spiritual eyes were opened Immediately upon recognizing Him she fell at His feet and addressed Jesus as, Rabboni
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) The Lord s response, Touch me not has been translated in other languages as, Stop holding me; Do not hold on to me; Don t cling to me The Joseph Smith translation states, Hold me not
Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) Because of Mary Magdalene s very close relationship with Jesus, it is probable that she would have been present in the upper room with the Apostles and the mother of Jesus after the Lord s ascension into heaven
Our Sisters Mary, the mother of Jesus, Phebe, and Mary Magdalene all had special roles and responsibilities in helping Jesus and His Apostles in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth